Ryanair tips

20 Ryanair tips
Master the airline’s mega-strict rules for cheap flights

Ryanair markets itself as a budget airline, but securing truly affordable fares requires savvy maneuvering to sidestep steep fees. This guide is loaded with strategies to ensure your expenses stay grounded. For additional cost-saving advice, check out our EasyJet tricks and Budget Flight Fee-Fighting guides.

1 – Check if booking the return in euros is cheaper

You might be able to reduce the cost of return flights with a clever trick. Try booking each leg of your journey as separate transactions. While this strategy doesn’t always yield savings, it’s definitely worth a try.

How does it work?

Previously, booking flights with Ryanair required you to visit the specific site for the country you were traveling to, such as www.ryanair.com/it for flights to Italy. Now, however, you can handle everything through the Ryanair UK site. Simply look for your outbound flight as a one-way ticket, and then, in a separate browser tab or window, search for your return flight as another one-way ticket, like from Ibiza to London Stansted.

Don’t accept Ryanair’s ‘guaranteed exchange rate’. Once you’ve entered your card information, be vigilant for a subtle notification displaying the ticket price in pounds, calculated according to Ryanair’s exchange rate. To avoid this and potentially save a significant amount, you’ll need to click on ‘more information’ and choose to use your bank’s exchange rate instead.

IMPORTANT – don’t quash the gain paying the wrong way

To maximize your savings, use a specialized plastic card that avoids the typical 3% foreign transaction fee – for top recommendations, check out our guide on the most economical methods for obtaining travel money.

If you don’t possess a card that waives these fees, opt for the least expensive card for international use that you have. Discover which card is the most cost-effective by using our “How much does your card charge?” tool.

2 – Don’t break the rules – you’ll pay if you do

It may seem straightforward, but bending the rules is a common human tendency. Many might think, “No one will notice if my bag is slightly over the limit.”

However, with Ryanair, things are different. The airline is known for its strict enforcement of regulations, and reports suggest that its staff might even use a tape measure to check the dimensions of your bag if there’s any question about its size.

In fact, Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, notoriously referred to passengers who had to pay extra because they forgot to print their boarding passes as “idiots” back in 2012. This comment gives you a pretty clear idea of their no-nonsense approach.

3 – The free check-in window is now just 24 hours before travel

When flying with Ryanair, it’s crucial to remember to always check in online and either print or download your boarding pass. Failure to do so could result in a fee of £55 per person, per flight.

For bookings made after January 28, 2021, you can only check in for free within a window of two to 24 hours before departure, unless you’ve paid to reserve a seat. If you opt to pay for a seat reservation, which generally costs between £3 and £7 per person, you’ll be able to check in for free up to 60 days before your flight.

How to avoid being stung – use the app

Due to the stringent regulations, if you’re hoping to check in for free, you’ll probably need to complete your return flight check-in while you’re abroad.

The easy way to do this is via Ryanair’s free app (for iOS or Android). Often, you can obtain your boarding pass through the app, eliminating the need to locate a printer. If you are traveling outside the EU, be cautious of high mobile data fees (see to Mobile and Data Roaming) – utilizing free Wi-Fi is a more cost-effective option.

Keep in mind that certain airports, particularly in Morocco and Greece, may not accept mobile boarding passes.

Airports which don’t accept mobile boarding passes – full list

At certain airports, you’ll need to print your boarding pass yourself after checking in online, or else face a £20 fee per person for it to be printed at the airport. Here’s a list of those airports:

• Agadir (Morocco)
• Essaouira (Morocco)
• Fez (Morocco)
• Nador (Morocco)
• Oujda (Morocco)
• Marrakesh (Morocco)
• Rabat (Morocco)
• Tangier (Morocco)
• Kefalonia (Greece)
• Volos (Greece)
• Nea Aghialos (Greece)
• Tel Aviv (Israel)
• Dalaman (Turkey)

NEVER leave it until you get to the airport

Make sure not to postpone checking in until you reach the airport. If you neglect to complete the check-in process online beforehand, you’ll face a £55 fee per person, per flight. For a family of four, this could amount to £220—sometimes exceeding the cost of the flight itself.

Additionally, if you check in online but either forget to print your boarding pass or fail to download it onto your smartphone, you’ll incur a £20 fee per person to have it reissued at the airport.

4 – If you don’t pay to choose a seat, you risk your group being sat rows apart

Ryanair maintains that it assigns seats at random if passengers opt not to pay for seat selection. However, there has been significant backlash from travelers who allege that the airline often places groups in separate rows to pressure them into paying for adjacent seats. Consequently, the only sure way to ensure that your group sits together is to pay for seat selection.

(Though if you’re disabled and you request special assistance, it says you’ll be allocated a ‘suitable’ seat next to a companion, free of charge.)

If you pay £3+ for a seat you can check in 60 days ahead – go quick to find the cheapest

Seat check-in for a fee becomes available 60 days in advance, and Ryanair has stated that prices remain consistent throughout this period. To maximize your chances of securing the least expensive seats before they are taken by other passengers, it’s advisable to check in as early as possible if you’re willing to pay.

Ryanair has disclosed the following fees for most flights by row, though some longer routes, such as those to the Canary Islands, may incur higher charges:

• Rows 1, 2 (seats DEF), 16 and 17 have extra legroom and cost from £14.
• Rows 2 (seats ABC) to 5 cost from £7.
• Rows 6 to 15 and 18 to 33 are standard seats. They cost from £3.

If you prefer not to pay for a seat assignment, you can check in starting two days prior to your flight, at which point a seat will be assigned to you at random.

5 – You must pay to reserve a seat if travelling with under-12s

When traveling with kids under 12, one adult in your group must pay an additional fee to secure a seat. This payment ensures that the children, up to a maximum of four per adult, will be seated together with no extra cost for their seats.

The fee for reserving an adult’s seat starts at £4, and you have the option to select seats in rows 18 to 33 for you and your children. If you prefer seats outside this range, you will need to pay the full price for both your seat and those of the children.

For children aged 12 and over, reserving seats is optional. If you choose not to pay, seats will be assigned randomly at check-in. Alternatively, you can pay to reserve seats for both adults and children, with prices beginning at £3 per seat per flight. Ryanair occasionally offers promotions that might reduce the cost of allocated seating.

If you choose not to pay for seats and end up seated away from your kids, contact Ryanair customer services as they may be able to help.

6 – Trick to slash the cost of seats and baggage

Trick to save up to 60% on seat reservations and cabin bags. When flying with Ryanair, you’ll need to pay additional fees if you want to bring anything larger than a handbag onboard, select a specific seat, or ensure that you sit together as a group.

During the booking process, Ryanair prominently offers the option to pay for these extras (including priority boarding) by choosing the ‘Regular‘ fare, which typically costs between £21 and £23 per person, per flight.

However, we’ve discovered that choosing the ‘Value‘ fare and then separately adding seat reservations, cabin bags, and priority boarding can often lead to significant savings. For example, we found that a family of four could save nearly £100 on return flights just by booking these extras individually.

Important: This trick works most of the time, not every time. Our analysis indicates that the ‘Regular’ fare can occasionally be the most economical choice, especially if some seats on the flight have already been reserved. To ensure you secure the best price, it’s wise to compare both fare options.

How does this trick work?

The key lies in how you select your additional options. After booking your flights, you’ll encounter several fare choices – ‘Value’, ‘Regular’, and ‘Plus’ being the primary categories. If you wish to secure a seat reservation and have a larger cabin bag, you have the following options:

• Option 1: Choose the Regular fare (usually £21-£23 extra per person, per flight). This option provides you with ‘priority boarding and two cabin bags’ along with a reserved seat. This means you can board the plane ahead of others and bring a wheelie bag into the cabin, in addition to the small carry-on that all passengers can bring at no extra cost. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to choose your seat from rows 18 to 33.
• Option 2: Choose the Value fare, then add the extras separately (about £9-£33 extra per person, per flight). Proceed with the booking process until you reach the point where you’re given the option to pay for seat selection (approximately £3-£13 each way for rows 18-33). Additionally, you can choose to add ‘priority boarding and two cabin bags’ for an extra fee of £6-£20 each way.

For clarification, with either choice, you’ll secure a reserved seat in rows 18-33, enjoy priority boarding, and be allowed two cabin bags, with one permitted to be a rolling bag weighing up to 10kg. We reached out to Ryanair to understand why the Regular package frequently incurs a higher cost, but they did not reply to our inquiries.

How much can you save?

The amount you save depends on factors such as the route, destination, number of travelers, and the availability of seats to choose from. However, the savings can be substantial.

Our spot-checks revealed that booking separately could lead to an average savings of 30%. For instance, one family of four managed to save £99 on return flights, which represents a staggering 59% discount compared to the regular fare.

A key consideration was the choice of seats when booking individually. If you choose the Regular fare, rows 18-33 are included at no extra cost. However, when booking separately, prices can differ based on seat availability and remaining options.

• When choosing the most affordable seats, booking individually consistently proved to be more economical. The savings varied from 9% to an impressive 59% off the standard fare.
• When choosing the most expensive seats in rows 18-33, booking them individually won 80% of the time. However, considering the higher costs of these seats, booking under the Regular fare was actually cheaper in four out of the 20 bookings we examined. So, it’s crucial to always verify your options.

Taking the route from Luton to Bologna as a case in point, the standard fare for two adults and two children for a round trip amounted to an extra £166.80. In contrast, if you added extras individually, it would cost an additional £68, which results in a savings of 59%.

This trick works best if you’re travelling with kids

A significant aspect to note is that Ryanair provides ‘free’ reserved seating for children under 12 due to its family seating policy, which aims to keep kids seated with their parents. When flying with children under 12, at least one adult must book a seat, but up to four children can be seated next to that adult at no extra charge. While the airline indicates a cost of £4 for reserving these seats, our checks revealed it was actually £6 for each booking.

Therefore, opting for a Regular fare, which applies to everyone in your group, is generally unnecessary when traveling with young children. In the 10 bookings we analyzed that included children, separately adding seats, cabin bags, and priority boarding consistently proved to be more economical, even when choosing the most expensive seats in rows 18-33.

7 – Ryanair airports are often miles from the destination cities – factor in transport costs

Planning to indulge in a smörgåsbord in Stockholm or savor some sangria and paella in Barcelona? If you’re counting on a quick trip to the city center, you might want to reconsider.

Take Stockholm’s Skavsta airport, used by Ryanair, as an example. It’s situated about 65 miles from downtown Stockholm, which translates to a two-hour bus journey and an additional £27 return added to your expenses.

Although Ryanair might offer attractive fares, and you might uncover a good deal with some local insights, it’s essential to consider the full cost. Before finalizing your booking, evaluate the total costs of flights and transportation from both the budget and major airports.

8 – Happy to go anywhere with Ryanair as long as the price is right? Try its budget-flight finder tool

Ryanair’s Fare Finder feature lets you discover destinations within a specific budget, such as under £20, from your selected departure airport. You won’t be able to select a specific date; instead, the tool reveals which months offer flights within your budget. This means you’ll need to be flexible with your travel plans to make the most of this feature.

Always compare the cost with what you can get elsewhere – for instance, Momondo’s Trip Finder and Kayak’s Explore let you search in a similar way. Also see our Cheap Flights guide for a host of flight cost-cutting tips and tricks.

9 – Hand-luggage rules have changed

Ryanair hand luggage rules – what you need to know. In 2018, Ryanair updated its baggage policy twice. Currently, unless you opt for priority boarding at a minimum cost of £6, you are permitted to bring only one small carry-on bag into the cabin on flights.

Before these changes, non-priority passengers were allowed to carry one small bag plus a larger wheeled suitcase at no additional cost. The larger bag was tagged at the gate and stored in the hold without any extra fees. Now, however, there are no complimentary gate-checked bags.

How Ryanair’s rules have changed

This is the current baggage policy:

• Non-priority customers can only bring one small bag into the cabin for free. This must go under the seat in front of you – the maximum dimensions are 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. You’ll no longer be able to put a second bag in the hold for free.Confusingly, Ryanair said its bag sizer – the box used to measure bags at the airport – would be increased to 42cm x 20cm x 30cm. This is slightly bigger than the permitted size for the free bag, suggesting there is some wiggle room.It’s still best not to take any chances at the airport, because if your bag is too big (or if you forget and accidentally bring a second bag to the gate), you’ll have to pay £25 to put it in the hold.
• Customers who pay at least £6 for ‘priority and two cabin bags’ see no change. Except the maximum dimensions of their smaller bag will increase to 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. They can continue to bring two free carry-on bags into the cabin – one 10kg bag (55cm x 40cm x 20cm) and one small bag. Priority and two cabin bags costs £6-£20.

If you need to bring a larger bag that weighs up to 10kg, you have a couple of options: you can either pay for priority boarding or check it in, which costs between £13 and £24.

If you opt to handle this at the check-in desk or at the gate, you’ll be charged £25 to stow your bag in the hold.

Remember, with your main bag, you might be able to fit more items than you expect while staying within the 10kg limit.

Stick to carry-on rules

You are required to transport liquids and gels in separate containers, each with a maximum capacity of 100ml. All these containers must fit inside a single transparent, resealable bag measuring 20cm x 20cm.

You can carry multiple 100ml containers, meaning you could, for example, split your sunscreen into two 100ml bottles. See the Government’s full regulations.

Taking a second bag on board? Pack heavier items in your smaller bag

Ryanair’s weight restriction is only relevant for the larger 10kg bag; the smaller bag doesn’t have a weight limit. Therefore, if you have small but heavy items like toiletries, consider packing them in your handbag or laptop bag to avoid reaching the weight limit of your larger bag.

Take squishable hand luggage – it can defy size limits

While size is important, the type of bag you choose can significantly impact your travel experience.

If your bag is flexible and can be compressed, it’s more likely to fit into the bins designed for hand luggage, should you need to verify its dimensions.

Additionally, such bags are often easier to stow in the overhead compartments on the plane.

Don’t buy posh travel-size toiletries

Travel-sized lotions and potions often come with a hefty price tag. Instead, consider repurposing small empty bottles by thoroughly washing and drying them, then refilling them with your regular toiletries. Those free mini toiletry bottles from past hotel stays are ideal for this purpose.

Buy cheap, lightweight cases

Avoid going for anything elaborate – you can find budget options for around £10 that are probably within Easyjet’s size limits, as many are designed to meet the requirements of budget airlines these days.

Take travel laundry wash

This allows you to maintain a compact capsule wardrobe and do laundry as needed. Additionally, you’ll save money by not needing to use a laundry service.

Include all wheels and handles when measuring your luggage or risk a fee

Measurements should encompass the wheels, handles, and any extra features your bag might possess. Grab a tape measure and ensure you’re within the allowed dimensions. Ryanair is notorious for its strict policies, so if you disregard the rules and staff notice, you might be required to pay additional fees.

Leave space for your return

A lot of travelers return from their vacations with souvenirs that exceed their original packing. If you find yourself in this situation, remember to save some room in your suitcase for a pair of tiny wooden clogs or a mug that says “I heart Rome.”

10 – Pay for hold baggage when you book or you’ll pay up to £60 per bag, per flight

If you’re considering bringing larger suitcases weighing up to 20kg, booking in advance will cost you between £21 and £40 per bag, per flight. However, if you add luggage at a later time or wait until you’re at the airport, the price can rise to as much as £60 per bag, per flight—even if you purchase checked baggage only a few hours after your initial booking. See a full list of Ryanair baggage fees.

If you’re planning a trip and have a couple of 20kg checked bags but haven’t booked ahead, you might face a hefty £240 charge for a round trip.

To avoid excessive baggage fees, consider reducing the number of checked bags you bring. For example, when traveling with a partner, friends, or family, you could consolidate your belongings into a single checked suitcase, including any liquids that can’t be carried in the cabin. Place the remaining items in your hand luggage to keep costs down.

Going with an under-two who has their own seat? Get an extra 5kg of hand luggage

When traveling with infants or toddlers, it’s common to have them sit on your lap. However, if you book a separate seat for a child under two, you’ll be granted an extra 5kg bag in addition to your own baggage allowance.

Furthermore, you’re permitted to bring a pushchair along with one of the following items at no extra cost: a car seat, a booster seat, or a travel cot.

11 – Don’t carry your luggage – wear it

If you’ve ever been at a Ryanair boarding gate, you may have noticed some passengers attempting to stuff their handbags to the brim.

Avoid falling into that trap. Instead, leverage a highly useful resource you always have with you – yourself. The more you carry on your person, the less you’ll need to pack into your cabin bag.

Think large, deep pocketed coats and jackets. Examples include the likes of a 22-pocket Scottevest, a special US survivalist jacket. It was quite bulky, yet it somehow accommodated a laptop, two books, a towel, passports, a T-shirt, socks, magazines, and various other items.

As another option, consider putting on any bulky coats, large boots, or thick sweaters you plan to bring along. These items can occupy a significant amount of space in your luggage. If the plane feels cramped, you can always store your belongings under the seat in front of you.

12 – Can you beat airline baggage fees by POSTING your luggage?

Several companies provide services to send your holiday luggage overseas, helping you avoid the steep fees often charged by budget airlines. After analyzing the costs, we discovered that this option can lead to significant savings, though it may not always be the case.

See Can you save by POSTING luggage? for full details.

13 – Board earlier to ensure you and your luggage can stick together

If you board the plane later, the overhead compartments near you might already be occupied. As a result, you could end up having to stow your bag at the opposite end of the aircraft or check it in (though there’s no additional fee for this).

To steer clear of the hassle of retrieving it after landing or inconveniencing fellow passengers by accessing it during the flight, make sure to arrive at the gate and get in line early.

14 – Correct mistakes quickly or pay up to £160

Made a small error? Correct within 48hrs for free. If later, fees can be huge – so booking a new flight could be cheaper. A heads-up: BEFORE finalizing your booking, make sure to double and triple-check everything. Errors can be expensive.

In 2018, a peculiar issue affected some customers who had booked group flights. The problem led to the group’s last names being altered to match each other, and they encountered a £115 charge to rectify the mistake.

How to correct a small error

You have a 48-hour period to fix a misspelled name (but not to change it entirely) or an incorrect date at no cost, provided you made your booking directly with Ryanair.

Once this 48-hour period has passed, the following fees will apply:

• Date/route changes – £35-£95
• Name changes – £115 (£160 at the airport)

Keep in mind that if you modify your travel dates, you’ll need to cover any additional cost if the new flight is pricier than the original booking. However, if the new flight costs less, you won’t receive a refund for the difference.

It could be cheaper to book a new flight

If you spot mistakes after 48 hours, it might be more economical to book a new flight entirely instead of modifying your current reservation. While this isn’t always the case, it’s a good idea to compare the cost of a new ticket with the fee for making changes to see if you can save money.

15 – You can sign up for alerts to find out when Ryanair releases seats

Ryanair’s ticket prices, like those of many low-cost carriers, fluctuate according to demand for specific flights. Initially, fares are often set at a low rate, but they may drop further during promotions or if Ryanair reduces costs due to lower demand.

Booking in advance generally improves your chances of securing a good rate, especially if you plan to travel during high-demand periods, such as school holidays, when prices are less likely to decrease.

However, it’s important to note that if you purchase a ticket and the price for that flight drops afterward, refunds for the difference are not offered.

When does it launch tickets?

Ryanair releases seats in batches, around nine months in advance but it doesn’t have clear, published dates (unlike Easyjet). To find out first, ‘like’ Ryanair’s Facebook page and sign up to its myRyanair email service for alerts and for when it has a sale on.

16 – Pay the right way for extra protection

To ensure maximum protection for flight purchases exceeding £100, it’s advisable to pay with a credit card, provided you repay the balance in full to avoid interest charges. This method grants you Section 75 protection, meaning the credit card issuer shares responsibility if issues arise, such as the airline going bankrupt. However, applying this protection to flights can be somewhat complex.

Section 75 treats each individual flight as a separate transaction. Therefore, if you book a round trip where each leg costs £50, totaling £100, you won’t be covered under Section 75. To qualify for this additional protection, each segment of your journey must be priced at £100 or more.

Debit card payments get some protection too

When using a debit card, you have certain protections that might allow you to recover your funds if an issue arises—though it’s not as robust as the Section 75 protection. This protection is known as ‘chargeback’ and is available for most debit and charge cards, as well as Visa, Mastercard, and Amex credit cards. However, it’s important to note that chargeback is not mandated by law. For further details, consult the Chargeback guide.

17 – Avoid costly extras, eg, travel insurance

Avoid expensive Ryanair extras such as car hire and hotels – always check prices independently. Once you’ve booked your flight with Ryanair, you may be tempted to add extras like hotels, car rentals, and cheap travel insurance. While these options can be convenient, it’s wise to compare prices elsewhere before committing. Always shop around to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Travel insurance, in particular, tends to be more expensive when purchased through airlines or travel agents compared to buying it independently. For instance, as of the latest update, a single trip insurance policy for a week in Tenerife was priced at £20 per person through Ryanair. In contrast, standalone policies for Europe can start as low as £6 per person.

For more top tips on cutting costs, check our Cheap Hotels and Cheap Car Hire guides.

18 – Got noise-cancelling headphones? Take them

Got noise-cancelling headphones? Take them for flights between 7am and 10pm to avoid SCREAMING announcements.

Numerous Ryanair passengers have complained about excessive noise—not from the aircraft engines, but from frequent, non-safety-related announcements made during flights.

Responding to this feedback, Ryanair has launched a ‘Quiet Flights’ initiative. This means that if you’re flying between 10pm and 7am, you can look forward to a quieter journey. Outside these hours, however, be prepared for more noise.

Don’t have fancy headphones? Grab some earplugs instead; they’re available for under £3 for three pairs from Boots* as of now.

19 – Avoid sky-high food prices – pack a mile-high picnic instead

Did you know that mid-air picnics are actually allowed? The only restriction is on liquids exceeding 100ml due to security regulations.

To save some cash, plan ahead and pack your own snacks. This can be a lot cheaper compared to buying food on the plane or at airport shops. For example, we found that a ham and cheese panini on Ryanair costs €5.50 (£4.60). Even though airport prices are generally high, a Boots meal deal with a drink and snack costs around £4.

While pre-packaged sandwiches might not win any culinary awards, bringing your own food could offer better taste and savings.

Moreover, your in-flight meals don’t have to be dull. You can add a touch of holiday spirit by preparing dishes inspired by your destination—think cold tagines and couscous for Morocco, tomato and mozzarella salad for Italy, or schnitzel and apple strudel for Austria.

20 – Don’t assume Ryanair is cheapest – always compare

Ryanair has a reputation for being cheap, but it isn’t always cheapest.

So after using these tricks always compare the final price you’re quoted with the best alternative, using our Cheap Flights guide. Plus see our Easyjet tricks and Beat Budget-Airline Fees guides for loads more hints and tips.